Chapter 12: Orange

Charlie was out gathering food with Connor when she saw them. Just as they were walking up to the gate, Charlie though she spotted Aaron and Priscilla. Charlie ran off to catch up with them leaving Connor to carry the fish that they managed to catch.

"Aaron?" Charlie asked as she caught up to the couple. The man looked back to see who was calling out to them. He was just as shocked as she was.

"Charlie is that you?" The man asked. Charlie nodded as she ran up and hugged Aaron. Connor finally managed to catch up with them and was confused as to what was going on.

"Yes it's me." She replied. She let the guards know that Aaron and Priscilla were their friends and it was okay for them to come into the town. He thanked her for getting them in.

"So, how are Miles and your mother?" He asked remembering how everything wasn't that great before everyone split up and went their separate ways. She motioned for them to follow her.

"You can ask them yourself in a few minutes." She exclaimed as she showed them the way to the house.

"Did you find out more about the nanites?" Charlie asked earning a nod from Aaron.

"That's part of the reason we came back." Priscilla spoke up as she was trying to catch up with them.

"Are we going to have to start worrying about them too?" Charlie asked hoping they could answer that. Aaron said he would explain all of that when they got to the house. Charlie knocked on the door before walking in with Aaron and Priscilla. She did not want them to experience what she did weeks ago.

"Mom, we have some guests." Charlie said when Rachel answered the door. Rachel was shocked to see them too.

"Aaron, you're back!" Rachel said as she tried her best to hug him. "Priscilla too." She added as she invited them in.

"How are you?" She asked them. They filled her in on what they found out on their trip. While Pricilla was going on about the nanites, Aaron was trying hard not to stare. He was waiting for Rachel to say something before he asked.

"I see you have been productive over here in Willoughby." Aaron spoke realizing what he just said could have been taken the wrong way. He thought of something quickly to add to his statement. "The town looks really nice since the last time we were here." He added hoping that saved him. He wasn't trying to be rude he was just shocked. He sighed in relief when Rachel started explaining everything that happened since they were gone.

"Frank Blanchard decided to work with us to eliminate the patriots. Willoughby is headquarters. We lay low and pretend like nothing is going on while we train men here in the town." Rachel began and took a breath as she sat down in a chair. She invited everyone else to join her. She also mentioned how Bass was out with the General for two weeks and how he was after Ed Truman. "On top of all of that another Matheson will be joining us in four months or so." She added finally answering Aaron's unasked question.

"Sounds like a lot is going on over here." Rachel laughed since he wasn't wrong. "Congratulations by the way!" He added hoping he didn't offend her earlier with his comment. She was excited even though they were in the middle of stopping a war.

"Thanks." She replied as she got up to go get a glass of water. Charlie told her to stay and that she would get the water. "Would the two of you like to join us for dinner?" Rachel offered and explained that they would start preparing the meal once Miles was finished for the day.

"We would love to." Priscilla replied speaking for both her and Aaron. Charlie returned with water for everyone.

"Where is Miles anyways?" Aaron asked as he put the glass of water down on the coffee table. That was when Charlie and Rachel filled them in.

"Miles is the sheriff in this town." Charlie went on about how they managed to make Willoughby a nice community again. Rachel also informed them that Bass was helping out and that he had changed.

They continued making small talk in the front room making small talk until the door opened startling everyone. It was just Miles coming in after being out all day. He came in with a crate full of oranges.

"Can I interest anyone in some oranges." He asked as he placed the crated down on the ground before joining everyone. Aaron and Priscilla gasped at the amount of oranges that were in the crate. They haven't seen that much food in a long time since they have been on their journey to Idaho.

"How did you get all of that?" Aaron asked causing Miles to laugh. Last time they were in Willoughby the patriots were the ones giving out the food, and they were not that generous.

"Being the sheriff has its perks." Miles joked as he brought the crate to the kitchen and returned.

"Miles, could you make me some orange juice?" She begged hoping he would make it for her. She was getting to the point where it was uncomfortable to be on her feet for long. "Your child really wants some." She added trying to convince him to make it.

"Anything for my ladies." Miles responded as he got up to go make Rachel some orange juice. As he was doing so she remembered how for each of her pregnancies she craved orange. For Charlie, it was orange flavored icees and orange flavored soda. When she was pregnant with Danny it was orange slice candies. With this child it was oranges and orange juice. Fortunately for her, oranges were easy to come by. "One freshly squeezed orange juice!" He stated as he handed her the glass and a plate with orange slices.

"Thank you." She replied before drinking the entire glass.

"Anyone else want some?" He asked offering to make everyone a glass. Charlie nodded, but she got up to make her own. She also offered to make a glass for everyone. As she was in the kitchen squeezing the oranges she listened to the conversation going on in the other room.

"Miles, it seems like you have mellowed out a lot since I last saw you." Aaron blurted out as Miles joined them in the front room.

"Mellowed?" He laughed off Aaron's comment. Rachel knew that Aaron's comment had hurt Miles's pride. Sure he had mellowed out, but only when he was around close friends and family. Besides close friends and family, no one sees this side of Miles Matheson.

"That's not a bad thing, Miles." Rachel reassured him that there was nothing wrong with showing love, affection, and emotion towards loved ones. He really had come a long way and she didn't want him going back to the way he was before, cold and detached. When he was with the republic, some would have described him as heartless. He made progress by leaving the republic, but that wasn't much better. He tried to drink himself into oblivion so he would forget everything that he had done. Things went uphill from there ever since Charlie had asked for his help, causing him to leave Chicago. Because of her he now realized he had a purpose.

"More?" She nodded and handed him the glass. She laughed as he shook his head. He was glad that her craving was something that was rather easy to come by. If not, he would have felt terrible for not being able to provide it for her.

He walked into the kitchen to prepare another glass for Rachel. Before he could do so, Charlie handed him a full glass, and motioned to the others that she had made.

"Let me guess, Mom wanted more?" She chuckled as Miles nodded. Charlie figured that it would be her mother wanting more rather than everyone else. She made extra to have on hand knowing that they wouldn't go to waste.

"Thank goodness we have a near endless supply of oranges." He laughed motioning to the crate full of them as he and Charlie joined everyone in the fron room.